Rainforest World Music Festival 2013

The RWMF is back again and set to take centre stage on June 28-30 at the world famous Sarawak Cultural Village in Santubong. YB Datuk Amar Abang Zohari Tun Abang Haji Openg – Minister of Housing and Minister of Tourism, Sarawak announced this today at a press conference held at Plaza Merdeka, Kuching.

The Tourism Minister also proudly announced the ‘BrandLaureate Country Branding Award 2012-2013’ awarded to the festival in a glittering ceremony in Kuala Lumpur recently. The BrandLaureate Awards is the Grammy Awards for branding and the No.1 branding awards in the Asia Pacific and is endorsed by His Royal Highness Duli Yang Maha Mulia Yang Di Pertuan Agung (King of Malaysia).

A Sape Player at the RWMF

Once again this year, the Festival was voted for the 4th consecutive year as the top 25 best International Festivals by the renowned world music magazine, Songlines, in UK. The winning award and recognition has elevated its status in the international music scene as a festival which has well and truly put Sarawak on the world tourism map. It also extends its appeal to shores further from neighbouring countries.

Through Sarawak Tourism Board’s promotional and marketing effort overseas, RWMF packages are promoted from as far as London and the regions nearby like Brunei and also Peninsula Malaysia. These travel packages enable visitors to come and visit Sarawak not only for the festival but also to explore and experience the adventure in Sarawak.

Orang Ulu Sape Maker poses with his instrument

This year will be another exciting year and the organizer has promised the best line-up on stage from 21 bands which consist of 13 international and 8 Malaysian bands playing a diverse range of world music genres. The festival will continue its unique formula of having the afternoon informative musical workshops, ethno-musical lectures, jamming session and mini concerts held in the ethnic houses within the village. This session precedes the evening performances on two main stages outdoor with the jungle ambience.

The festival will showcase more of Sarawak’s local talent compared to the previous years. This is in line with the feedback received from the festival-goers from the previous festivals. The chances of sharing the same stage with international acts will enable our local musicians to be exposed to the international music scene. Amongst the wide range of traditional music from Sarawak to be featured this time will be the rare and dying art of the nose flute as well as Sarawak and Malaysian folk music interwoven with Chinese traditional instruments.

Crowd at the RWMF in Kuching

The exciting and eclectic line-up for this year’s RWMF has now been finalized. To date, the organizers have confirmed the international performers as below;

Indonesia (Rafly Wa Saja)

Iran (Mohsen Sharifian & The Lian Band)

Australia (Nunukul Yuggera), Denmark (Habadekuk)

South Africa (Dizu Plaatzies & The Ibuyambo Ensemble)

Ukraine (Spiritual Seasons)

USA (Pine Leaf Boys)

France (Chet Nuneta)

Columbia (Rey Vallenato Beto Jamaica)

Croatia (Kries)

Ireland (Kila)

Austria (Alp Bora)

Korea (Palsandae)

Malaysian Bands performing at the RWMF 2013 are;

Madeeh (Bidayuh traditional root)

Juk Wan Emang (nose flute of Kayan)

Native Chanting (oral blessings from the various indigenous tribes of Borneo)

For most visitors to the state, the Rainforest World Music Festival is a not-to-be-missed occasion, guaranteeing a smashing time of a visit to Malaysia. RWMF is where people from different culture, backgrounds and music interests will come together to have the time of their lives.

Rainforest World Music Festival Tickets

Daily tickets priced at RM120 for adults and RM60 for children aged 3 to 12. A 3-day pass for adults costing RM330 and RM160 for children aged 3 to 12 are also available.

For 2013, the Organizers hope to attract a crowd of 23,000 for the 3 nights against the 22,290 festival attendees in 2012. Out of this, the Board hopes to attract 80% visitors from outside Sarawak. This will thus augur well for the local business community and also contribute to a significant number of visitors’ arrivals into Sarawak as a whole. For more details, kindly log on to the official World Rainforest Music Festival Website.

Rainforest World Music Festival 2013
Reviewed by David Jr
on
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Rating: 5

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Malaysia Asia is a multiple award-winning travel blog site with information on unique and interesting places around Malaysia, Borneo, Indonesia, Southeast Asia and the World. Malaysia Asia is also under MyAsia Services, a Digital Travel Solutions Company based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

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